The United Nations humanitarian office, OCHA, has highlighted a dire situation in Gaza, where hospitals are rationing, ambulances are stalling, and water systems are on the brink due to a acute fuel crisis resulting from the Israeli blockade.
“Hospitals are rationing. Ambulances are stalling. Water systems are on the brink,” the humanitarian office stated, highlighting that without urgent action, the situation could lead to increased deaths and suffering.
The crisis is exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing siege on Gaza, which has blocked the entry of fuel for months, despite occasional allowances for food distribution.
Senior World Food Programme official Carl Skau has emphasized that the lack of fuel severely hampers aid efforts, with famine spreading and people dying in attempts to access food.
The director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, has expressed deep concern over the lack of fuel supplies, stating that without them, generators cannot run, making it difficult to provide medical care, and putting patients at risk of death.
The situation in Gaza’s health sector is compounded by the rise of preventable diseases under the harsh conditions caused by the blockade.
In addition to the humanitarian crisis, Israel continues its intense bombardment of the territory, with medical sources reporting at least 95 Palestinians killed in Gaza on a recent day.
UN experts and human rights groups have condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, labeling them as genocide.